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Shrine
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A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’; also used as a desk, like the French bureau) is a holy or sacred place which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. A shrine at which offerings are made is called an altar.
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A shrine, from the Latin scrinium (‘box’; also used as a desk, like the French bureau) is a holy or sacred place which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. A shrine at which offerings are made is called an altar. Shrines are found in many of the world's religions, including Catholic Christianity, Shia Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, LaVeyan Satanism, Chinese folk religion and Shinto, as well as in secular and non-religious settings. As such, shrines can be found in various settings, such as churches, temples, cemeteries, or in the home, although portable shrines are also found in some cultures.
This modern definition of a shrine is an extension of the original definition that was used in late antiquity, that of being a container, usually made of precious materials, used especially for a relic and often a cult image.
Types of Shrine
There are different types of shrine.
Site-specific shrines
In Christianity and Islam, a shrine does not usually denote any place where a deity is worshipped but refers to a space set up dedicated to an important religious event that happened there. These such sites commonly become places of pilgrimage. Examples include the Christian Lourdes and Walsingham, and the Islamic ka'bah.
Temple shrines
Most shrines are located within buildings designed specifically for worship, such as a church in Christianity, or a mandir in Hinduism. A shrine here is usually the centre of attention in the building, and is given a place of prominence. In such cases, adherents of the faith assemble within the building in order to venerate the deity at the shrine.
Household shrines
In historical pagan faiths, as well as in modern faiths such as Hinduism and Neopaganism, a shrine can commonly be found within the home, dedicated to a deity or to a localised household deity.
Yard shrines
Small outdoor yard shrines are found at the places of many peoples following various religions, especially historic Christianity. Many consist of a statue of Christ or a saint on a pedestal or in an alcove, while others may be elaborate groupings including paintings, statuary, and architectural elements such as walls, roofs, glass doors, ironwork fences, and so on.
In the United States, many Christians (especially Anglican and Roman Catholic) have small yard shrines; some of these greatly resemble side altars, since they are composed of a statue placed in a niche or grotto; this type is colloquially referred to as a bathtub Madonna. Nativity scenes are also a form of yard shrine.
Religious shrines
Shrines are most commonly found as a place of religious significance, and shrines are found in most, though not all, religions. As distinguished from a temple, a shrine usually houses a particular relic or cult image, which is the object of worship or veneration, or is constructed to set apart a site which is thought to be particularly holy, as opposed to being placed for the convenience of worshippers. Shrines therefore attract the practice of pilgrimage.
Christianity
Shrines are found in many, though not all, forms of Christianity. Roman Catholicism, the largest denomination of Christianity, has many shrines, as does Orthodox Christianity, however Protestantism, another type of Christianity, is typically opposed to them.
In the Roman Catholic Code of Canon law, canons 1230 and 1231 read: "The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims. For a shrine to be described as national, the approval of the Episcopal Conference is necessary. For it to be described as international, the approval of the Holy See is required." Catholic shrines are therefore normally churches which for historical or other reasons have become the destination of pilgrimages.
Another use of the term "shrine" in colloquial Catholic terminology is a niche or alcove in most - especially larger - churches used by parishioners when praying privately in the church. They were also called Devotional Altars, since they could look like small Side Altars. Shrines were always centered on some image of Christ or a saint - for instance, a statue, painting, mural or mosaic, and may have had a reredos behind them (without a Tabernacle built in).
However, Mass would not be celebrated at them; they were simply used to aid or give a visual focus for prayers. Side altars where Mass could actually be celebrated were used in a similar way to shrines by parishioners. Side Altars were specifically dedicated to The Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph or other saints.
The long Roman Catholic tradition of veneration of saints has produced an impressive number of notable shrines, some of truly international renoun. There are separate articles on:
Shrine may also designate a small altar in a home or place of business, or a room or item of furniture which is decorated with religious symbols and used for private worship, as was common in the polytheist periods of Classical Antiquity. Devotions are generally to ancestral or tutelary spirits.
Islam
Muslims do not have shrines dedicated to Allah, and consider such a thing to be idolatry. Sunni Islam, which is the largest form of Islam, does not have any shrines at all, except for the ka'ba, a central box in the city of Mecca, which is often referred to as a shrine even though it is not used for the worship of Allah.
On the other hand, Muslims have differing opinions on shrines and the intercession of saints (Tawassul). Shia Islam maintains a tradition of venerating late religious leaders (as there is no hierarchical church, the bond is personal; but often a 'successor', maintains a following) and/or martyrs (usually at their grave). Shrines are even made in honour of the descendants of Shi‘ah Imams, thus the Persian word imamzadeh. There are also sunnite equivalents, as among the ascetic marabouts of West Africa and the Maghreb.
Hinduism
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In Hinduism, a shrine is a place where a god or goddess is worshipped. Shrines are typically located inside a temple known as a mandir, though many Hindus also have a household shrine as well. Sometimes a human is venerated at a Hindu shrine along with a deity, for instance the 19th century religious teacher Sri Ramakrishna is venerated at the Ramakrishna Temple in Kolkata, India.
Central to a Hindu shrine is a statue of a deity, which is known as a murti. Hindus believe that the deity that they are worshiping actually enters and inhabits the murti. This is given offerings like candles, food, flowers, and incense. In some cases, particularly among devotees of the goddess Kali in northern India, animals are sacrificed to the deity.
At a mandir, the congregation often assembles in front of a shrine, and, led by priests, give offerings and sing devotional hymns.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, a shrine refers to a place where veneration is focused on the Buddha or one of the bodhisattvas. Monks, nuns and laypeople all give offerings to these revered figures at these shrines and also meditate in front of them.
Typically, Buddhist shrines contain a statue of either the Buddha, or (in the Mahayana and Vajrayana forms of Buddhism), one of the various bodhisattvas. They also commonly contain candles, along with offerings such as flowers, purified water, food, and incense. Many shrines also contain sacred relics, such as the alleged tooth of the Buddha held at a shrine in Sri Lanka.
Site-specific shrines in Buddhism, particularly those that contain relics of deceased buddha's and revered monks, are often designed in the traditional form known as the stupa.
Bahá'í
The two most well-known Bahá'í shrines serve as the resting places for the respective remains of the two central figures of the Bahá'í Faith, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. They are the focal points of a Bahá'í pilgrimage:
Neopaganism
In the many different neopagan faiths, which include Wicca, Hellenic Polytheism, Neo-Druidry, and Heathenism, shrines serve many different purposes.
In the neopagan religion of Wicca, a shrine is a place where the Horned God and the Triple Goddess are worshipped. However, they are more commonly referred to with the term "altar." In other Pagan religions, shrines may be dedicated to one or many different Gods and Goddesses. As in Wicca, household worship is usually centered around them.
Religions without shrines
Certain religions do not feature shrines at all, either because they believe they are fundamentally wrong, or because they simply do not need them. Spiritualism, whilst believing in a God, does not typically make use of shrines.
Secular shrines
In the United States and some other countries, landmarks may be called "historic shrines." Notable shrines of this type include:
By extension the term shrine has come to mean any place (or virtual cyber-place) dedicated completely to a particular person or subject.
Select list of shrines by location
Africa
Cameroon
- Basilique Marie-Reine-des-Apôtres (Mary Queen of the Apostles Basilica) in Yaoundé.
Asia
China
- Our Lady of Carmel shrine in Tianjiajing, Henan.
India
- One international shrine, in Ernakulam – Angamaly, of the Syro-Malabar rite:
- Shrine Vailankanni Basilica Vailankanni in India
Iran
Iraq
- Imam Ali Mosque, Najaf, Iraq – tomb of Ali, the cousin of Muhammad and First Shi‘ah Imam
- Imam Husayn Shrine, Karbala, Iraq – tomb of Husayn, the son of Ali, grandson of Muhammad and Third Twelver Shi‘ah Imam
- Hadhrat ‘Abbas Mosque, Karbala, Iraq – tomb of ‘Abbas, the brother of Husayn
- Al Kadhimiya Mosque, Kadhimayn, Iraq – tomb of the Seventh and Ninth Twelver Shi‘ah Imams
- Al Askari Mosque, Samarra, Iraq – tomb of the Tenth and Eleventh Twelver Shi‘ah Imams
Syria
Israel
Japan
Europe
Austria
Belgium
- The shrine of Our Lady at Scherpenheuvel in Flanders
Croatia
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
- the minor basilica of Our Lady of Knock Queen of Ireland [BVM] in Knock
Italy
Latvia
- minor basilica of BVM Assumption in Aglona
Malta
- the minor basilica of National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu [BVM Assumption] in Gharb
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Ukraine
United Kingdom
North America
Canada
Mexico
United States
- Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.
- Basilica of Holy Hill National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians in Hubertus, Wisconsin.
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland.
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.
- Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in San Antonio Texas.
- Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Jaffa Shrine in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
- Light Of Truth Universal Shrine in Buckingham, Virginia.
- National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in New Orleans, Louisiana,
- National Shrine of National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida.
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
- National Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri.
- National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois.
- National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
- National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan.
- National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg , Maryland.
- National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi San Francisco, California.
- National Shrine of Saint John Neumann in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- National Shrine of St. Katherine Drexel in Bensalem Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Our Lady of Victory Basilica National Shrine in Lackawanna, New York.
- Shrine of Christ the King Sovereign Priest in Chicago, Illinois.
- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse,Wisconsin.
- Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in Auriesville, New York.
- Shrine of Saint Joseph in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama.
- Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York.
- Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Granite Falls, Washington.
South America
Oceania
Australia
- in Sydney, St. Mary's Cathedral, a minor basilica
- in Melbourne: St. Anthony's National Shrine, National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and National Shrine of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
See also
External Links
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